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leaking coolant

I replaced the evaporator core on a 2001 XJ this past weekend. The heater hoses were old and they had to be cut off, so we did that and replaced them with new ones. Everything went smoothly, and we reassembled everything and started the car. Coolant started leaking everywhere! Not at first, but only after the pressure builds up and you rev the engine a few times. We are almost positive its leaking where the rubber hose meets the heater core's copper pipes. We tried multiple hoses and clamps, but the leak still occurs. Coolant will pour out of the drain tube in the HVAC, we assume this is because the spraying coolant sprays thru the foam in the firewall and into the unit. I dont know where else to turn or go, but you can't drive for more than a minute before coolant goes everywhere. HELP!

Reply to
97tjMike
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You are describing a defective core.

I would put duct tape on the hole on the firewall just leaving the brass tub clear to stop coolant going from the hose to the insides to see if the leak stays outside the firewall. I suspect the leak is inside.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile... Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view! Jan/06
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Reply to
Mike Romain

well i replaced the EVAPORATOR CORE, not heater. the heater core just had to be removed and reinstalled. Still starting to agree with the diagnosis though.

Reply to
97tjMike

I was thinking when the old hose was cut off it was twisted and pulled on first which can crack a weak core joint or split the pipe.

I worded it strange though.

Mike

Reply to
Mike Romain

yea thiats what I'm thinking. Some guy at work offered to re-weld it for me (if possible), so I'm gonna rip it out.

Reply to
97tjMike

It's very possible! 'If' it's not a case of rot.

If I was going to rip off my dash to pull out the heater core, I would replace it rather than fix it.

I literally broke my rad in half twice and have soldered up many of it's cores with some cut off and blocked even because they were just too stretched to fix. I also welded two 1"x1/8" metal bars up the sides to reinforce the snapped in half side straps. (my lower tank was just hanging on the cores..)

I first broke it about 4 years ago and have nursed it along until a couple weeks back when I took it in for a re-core rather than solder up

3 more leaks for another bush camping run. They even left my heavy duty side strap braces on when they did the re-core, laughing about it never breaking again. LOL!

First time in 'years' I haven't had to do a rad fix on a run...

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile... Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view! Jan/06
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Reply to
Mike Romain

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